JAMIE REED is geared up for a “baptism of fire” if he makes his debut for York City in the FA Cup at Bolton tomorrow following his move from Bangor City.

The Welsh Premier League’s leading goalscorer joined the Minstermen on Wednesday for an undisclosed five-figure fee and could be pitched straight into the third-round tie at the Reebok Stadium.

Reed, 23, who netted 41 goals in 51 WPL starts for City, was subject to a bid from York earlier this season which was rejected by Bangor, but the Blue Square Bet Premier club came back with what was believed to be double the original offer.

“I’m hoping to be involved at Bolton, it depends if international clearance comes through, but we’re hopeful everything should be tied up by tomorrow,” Reed told the Daily Post yesterday.

“It will be a totally different experience to playing in the Welsh Premier, but it will be a baptism of fire and an exciting opportunity to make an early impact.”

Bangor City said they were sorry to see their star striker go, but added York’s offer was too handsome to turn down.

“The club received an offer from York City it could not refuse,” said club secretary Gwynfor Jones.

“It is a record fee for Bangor City as a selling club.

“Bangor City has never believed in standing in a player’s way and this deal offers Jamie a deserved opportunity to play full-time football.

“All parties have acted thoroughly professionally

throughout negotiations and Jamie leaves with our best wishes.

“The door will always be open to him at Bangor City.”

Jones added the deal involves add-on benefits based on Reed’s success as a professional which include a slice of any sell-on fee.

Reed played his final game for Bangor in the 2-0 defeat at Llanelli on Wednesday night.

Having started his career at Wrexham, Reed was loaned to Aberystwyth for half a season after previous loan spells at Glentoran and Colwyn Bay.

He returned to the Racecourse in January 2008 after netting nine Welsh Premier goals but, after a further loan stint at Tamworth, was released by Wrexham and signed a one-year deal at Rhyl.

After a year with the Lilywhites, where he won a Welsh Premier championship medal, he left in May 2009 to try and break into Major League Soccer in the USA.

However, he soon returned to the UK and, after trialling with several clubs, joined Bangor City, where he was leading scorer in season 2009/10 with 24 from 34 league matches and grabbed 30 goals in all competitions, also scooping a Welsh Cup winners’ medal.

A Wales under-23 semi-professional international, Reed was allowed to join Australia’s Victorian Premier League club Dandenong Thunder for the summer, scoring five goals in seven appearances and missing Bangor’s Europa League campaign in the process.

On his return to City he quickly found his scoring touch, notching 18 goals in all competitions and topping the WPL charts on 17, which included five in an 8-1 demolition of Port Talbot Town.